Look, I know Christmas is suppose to be a wonderful time of the year. Getting together with family and friends and all that. But I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts on the downside I always seem to come across in this time of the year.

I run a small business and am a single guy. Single and in a sort of relationship. I mean, it’s casual dating with no commitment, at the moment.

So here’s what I find troubling at Christmas and I wonder whether anyone else shares these things as well.

There’s this expectation I need to lavish all and sundry with gifts and I mean not just a ‘thought’ gift but reasonably expensive. You know, if you bought a card, wrote some words that you actually spent time on, that wouldn’t cut it. It’s almost a money thing if you ask me.

I get that it’s a family thing too. I get pressured by family members to need to have to visit them on XMas, even though they live freaking miles and miles away.

Those two are just me and then add the relationship burden from a girlfriend when you under some sort of secret obligation to organise and do special things throughout the entire Xmas period. I really like her and like spending time with her but there’s this constant pressure. It’s casual yet it’s also more bonding in having to spend more time during this break as well.

I’d love it to actually be a chillout time since it’s a holiday. It kinda isn’t though.

Well, that’s my few starter things anyway. I think I needed to vent a little and see if anyone else gets these thoughts and pressures too.